Ravelry Pattern Hodgepodge Butterfly Afghan

   When I heard that my cousin and his wife were going to decorate their nursery with butterflies I began "favorite-ing" oodles of butterfly patterns on Ravelry... I LOVE butterflies, and I wish more parents would use them in their daughter's nursery theme.

     When I first saw the pattern for this afghan (which is made up of squares) I knew that it would be perfect (granted I would do some tweaking). I decided to only make 25 square (instead of the 35 the pattern called for...16 of square #1 and 9 of square #2)) since the time before the baby shower was running out.

     I also used a different butterfly pattern because I couldn't get the one from the afghan pattern to lay flat.

     After I saw this edging the scallops would not do. Somehow I couldn't get the butterfly edging to look right (so either I was doing something wrong or there was a slight error in the pattern) so I edited so that it reads as follows:

dc cluster = ch 3, yo, insert, draw up, yo, draw through 2, yo, insert in same st, draw up, yo, draw through 2, yo draw through all,

Tr cluster = ch 3, (yo 2, insert in same st, draw up, yo, draw through 2, yo, draw through 2) 3 times, yo draw through all, ch 4, sl st in same st

Antenna st = ch 5 tightly, ch 1 loosely (later you will cut this ch), ch 5 tightly, sl st in same st,

Butterfly= dc cluster, ch 1, tr cluster in last ch, antenna st in same st, ch 1, tr cluster in same st, dc cluster in the same st, sk 4 st in round 1 and sl st in 4th st

Notes: In between each of the butterflies you sc 10... Of course I had to tweak this too, instead leaving it basic I repeated this in between the butterflies:
(sl st, ch 2, sc in same st, sc 1)

 I guess I can't be perfectly happy with anything because after the first couple of squares I changed the pattern so that I would finish the first corner at the beginning of the round instead of doing half at the beginning and the other half at the end, which caused the corner to stretch out and look uneven. (like the upper left corner of the square above)

I even sewed the squares together differently than the usual whip stitch. Instead I used the flat braid join method that I found here and I used the tips from here.

Almost Waffle Afghan

This is my almost waffle afghan... Why do I call it that?...Well it was originally planned to have the texture of a waffle, unfortunately I screwed up the pattern which was translated to me verbally. By the time I got started I somehow managed to flip the order of two stitches.

This is what the pattern was supposed to be:
Ch a number divisible by 4, and then ch 2
Row 1
Dc 1 in each st
Row 2
Dc 2, *(Dc around the post of the next stitch) repeat once, dc 2, repeat form* til the end of the row.
Row 3
(Dc around the post of the next stitch) repeat once, *dc 2, (Dc around the post of the next stitch) repeat once, Repeat from * til the end of the row.
Row 4-How ever many rows you want
Repeat rows 2 and 3 alternating between the two until project reaches desired length

This is the pattern I did:
Ch a number divisible by 4, and then ch 2
Row 1
Dc 1 in each st
Row 2
Dc 2, *(Dc around the post of the next stitch) repeat once, dc 2, repeat form* til the end of the row.
Row 3-How ever many rows you want
Repeat row 2 until project reaches desired length

This afghan didn't turn out the way it was supposed to but it does look pretty if you ask me. I especially like the ruffle edge and the unusual texture.

Simple Deep Red Afghan

This is my very first afghan. Although I had finished long ago I just recently added the edge.

 For the edge I used bulky weight yarn even though I used a worsted weight for the afghan.

  

On the edge I used this pattern

Sc 1, (sl st, ch 7, sl st,) in the next stitch

Fleece Baby Blankets with Crocheted Edge

      This is one my favorite crochet projects of 2010, it's quick, easy, inexpensive, versatile, and very rewarding.This is much faster than crocheting an entire afghan. These blankets can be made with only very simple stitches such as: a chain stitch and single crochet, or can be made with more complicated stitches such as: double crochet, half double crochet, triple crochet, ect., all depending on which edge you chose to put on. I have found that I can get 2 blankets out of 24-36in of fleece, you can find this as a remnant at your local Joann's or fabric store. Joann's puts fleece on sale frequently, but regularly it costs about 7.99-13.99per yard. Because many fabric stores have lots of variety it's easy to find cute baby boy or girl fleece. Also you can easily alter you pattern from a straight edge to a scallop to a picot to your heart desire. Though no matter what you do it will look adorable. :)

To start your blanket you need to cut your fleece to size, cut slits. I do my slits about 3/4in away from the edge. The first blanket I did, I used a Crop-o-dile (which is a heavy duty hand punch.) Unfortunately I punched my holes too close together and too close to the edge so when I start to crochet the fabric stretched and tore. I had to start over by cutting off the edge and repunching. This method is tedious and uneven. If however you still want hand punch all the way around your blanket you should punch at least 3/4" away from the edge and punch your holes at least 3/4" apart. So not long after I obtained an "Original Skip-Stitch^® Blade" which can be purchased at http://www.skipstitch.com/products--orders.html. 

Hook G or H
Rnd 1
Insert your hook into a hole (make sure the right side is facing you) (sc 1, ch 1,) in each hole make sure you don't miss any. (Note: the edge of your fleece should fold back so that the bases of your single crochets are a little more 1/4")  On the corners (sc 1, ch 1) 3 times in the corner hole, (you may want to round the corner of the fleece with a pair of scissors.) When you reach your first st, sl st in it.

Rnd 2+
This is totally up to you. :)
The flowered blanket above has a rnd of dcs (with 3 dcs in the corner) and a rnd like this (sk 1, dc 5, sk 1,   sl st 1,)

 

Rnd 2

For this one it's just double crochet (with 3 dcs in the corners) and the sl st in 1st dc

Multiple colors is another fun option 
Rnd 2
Dc all the way around (with 3 dcs in the corners) Sl st in 1st dc
Rnd 3
Switch to red yarn, dc all the way around (with 3 dcs in the corners) Sl st in 1st dc
Rnd 4
(Sc, sl st, ch 5, sl st in the same st) all the way around, sl st in 1st sc

Aren't the little firemen cute. :)

Another option is "Dolly and Me" blankets

Here is the mini scallop for the doll blanket
Rnd 2
Sc all the way around, (sc 3 in the corners) sl st in 1st sc
Rnd 3
[Ch 2, (dc 1, hdc 1) in the next st, sl st] all the way around,

This is the same as the Flower blanket above.

 Have fun creating you own edge designs too! I would love to see them. :)

Bright Hexagon Afghan

This is the first afghan I can call my own. :) It is very similar to a granny square. Of course it has six corners.

 

Hexagon

Ch 4, sl st in 1^st to form a ring,

Rnd 1

Ch 3 (this counts as a dc), [dc, ch 2, (dc 2, ch 2) 5 times, sl st in the top of the 1^st dc (or the 3^rd ch)] in ring

Rnd 2

Ch 3 (this counts as a dc), dc in the corner you just made, (ch1, [dc 2, ch 2, dc 2,] in next corner) 5 times, dc 2 in 1^st corner, ch 2, sl st in the top of the 1^st dc (or the 3^rd ch)

Rnd 3

Ch 3 (this counts as a dc), dc in the corner you just made, (ch 1, dc 2 in next hole, ch 1, [dc 2, ch 2, dc 2,] in next corner) 5 times, dc 2 in 1^st corner, ch 2, sl st in the top of the 1^st dc (or the 3^rd ch)

Rnd 4

Ch 3 (this counts as a dc), dc in the corner you just made, (ch 1, [dc 2, ch1,] in next 2 holes, [dc 2, ch 2, dc 2,] in next corner) 5 times, dc 2 in 1^st corner, ch 2, sl st in the top of the 1^st dc (or the 3^rd ch)

Tie off, weave ends in

Simply put

Ch 4, sl st in 1^st to form a ring,
[Ch 3 (this counts as a dc), dc, ch 2, (dc 2, ch 2) 5 times, sl st in the top of the 1^st dc (or the 3^rd ch)] in ring

*(Dc 2, ch 2, dc 2, ch1)in each corner, dc, ch1, in each hole, all the way around, for the beg corner start it by ch 3, dc 1, then once you’ve been around dc 2, ch 2, sl st, in the 3^rd ch from beg* do 3 rnd from *to* or repeat from *to* until it is the desired size

hint: you can get rid of the beg tail by crocheting over it in the first rnd

Pumpkin Afghan

I first began to crochet this afghan for someone who loved orange. By the time I finished it he was 6 and already had two crocheted afghans. So I decided to add the black picot border.

To begin ch136 turn (dc in third ch from the hook and all the way across, ch 2 turn) repeat until you reached the desired size (I just used four skeins of orange red heart yarn)
Note: you don't have to ch exactly 136 that was just my desired length.

For the picot edge you (Sc 1, sl st, ch 3, sl st in the same spot) repeat as many times as needed. I did not write this pattern. Here's the video I got it from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgqBr3vmlmE

Simple Cutesy Afghan

This was my first afghan with squares. It is very simple, easy but also tedious because you have to sew a lot of seams.

My favorite effect is the scallop border. It was not my own pattern. “(sk 3, dc 5 in next st,)as many times as needed."

Here's the link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgqBr3vmlmE

 My aunt taught me how to make the granny squares orally and then I wrote it out. Here it is:

Size: 4x4

Tools:

Crochet hook size I/9

Scissors

Yarn needle/darning needle

Supplies:

Approx  12yds of worsted weight yarn

Abbreviations:

Chain=ch

Slip stitch=sl st

Double crochet=dc

Ch 4, join w/ sl st

Rnd 1: Ch 3, dc 2 in loop,  ch 2, *dc 3 in loop, ch 2* repeat from * to * 3 times,  join w/ sl st

Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc 2 in loop under  3 ch, ch 1, dc 3 in corner loop, ch 2, dc 3 in same corner loop, ch 1, *dc 3 in next corner, ch 2, dc 3 in same corner, ch 1,* repeat  from * to * once, dc 3 in next corner, ch 2, join  to beginning w/ sl st

Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc 2 in loop under 3 ch, *ch 1, dc 3 in middle loop, ch 1, dc 3 in corner, ch 2, dc 3 in same corner,* repeat from * to * twice, ch 1, dc 3 in middle loop, ch 1, dc 3 in next corner, ch 2, join  to beginning w/ sl st, tie off weave in ends

You may notice in this pattern that it is actually just "Dc 3, ch 2, dc 3" in the corners holes, dc 3 in the other holes and ch 1 in between." you can continue this for as many rounds as you like, this just happens to be for the 4" square.

Butterfly Afghan

This is probably my favorite afghan so far. It was a really quick and easy pattern.

I did tweak the first corner of each round "Ch 3, dc 1 in corner hole" and then finish the round as if this were the entire corner, when you reach the end of the round you won't have to slip stitch instead "dc 2 in corner hole, ch 2, sl st in the 3rd ch from the beg." just as you would with a granny square, this also makes it so you can't see the slip stitches in the final product. Although the first corner hole will be a slightly different shape. (in the 2nd picture, in the bottom right you may notice that those holes are a little bigger) Note: this is a 12in square

The square is not my own pattern. Here's where I found it along with other inspiring patterns. http://yarncrazy.blogspot.com/2009/05/butterfly-garden.html

This is the video for the 3-D Butterfly to sew on to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_0L152d1oc&p=C8B6ACC17E98D42C  (also not my own pattern) I hope you enjoy!